The cannon fodder original wife's bad story

Pei Jian raised his eyes and looked at Xiao Yinxiu.

Upon seeing this, Pei Chen squinted and suddenly jumped up, pointing at Xiao Yinxiu and saying, "Your room has recently been filled with a dazzling array of porcelain. Did that young lady send them over? When did you become so close to that young lady?"

Xiao Yinxiu was initially worried, but seeing Pei Chen's appearance, she immediately calmed down.

“Uncle, the eldest daughter sent some porcelain items, just trinkets. I know my place and have never accepted anything that is too valuable or out of line.”

"It's alright."

Pei Jian waved his hand, stopping Pei Chen from pointing at Xiao Yinxiu and shouting a rebuke.

"It's fine for you women to interact normally. I have some old grudges with her father, General Jin, but that's not enough to sever the friendship between the children of the two families. I've never questioned the long-standing friendship between Fourth Brother and the eldest daughter. I called you here today to ask if anyone went to the eldest daughter's residence and missed your incense offering today?"

this--

Xiao Yinxiu's face turned ugly.

It's all because of that stupid woman, Song! She lowered her head, stood up, and replied, "Uncle, please forgive me, going out to offer incense is not a secret. When the Duke's mansion travels, the caravan and horses are very large, so it must be planned in advance, and the servants and servants below must know in advance. Therefore, I don't know if anyone let it slip when they went to the Jin family to deliver the return gift."

"Check it out."

Pei Jian showed no sign of blame, but he still gave Xiao Yinxiu a huge project.

"I'll have Dahai investigate the area outside the second gate, but you'll have to handle the maids and servants." Just as he finished speaking, Pei Jian suddenly remembered something else. "A few days ago, Dahai came to tell me that you haven't been feeling well lately and won't be able to investigate your aunt's private treasury for a while?"

"Uncle, your child..."

She kept making excuses about feeling unwell and being busy with housework to avoid Pei Hai, but she never expected that her uncle would ask again and again.

“I know you’re in a difficult position. The heavy responsibility of managing the household in such a large mansion rests entirely on your shoulders. Forget it. Put this matter aside for now and let Chen-ge’er, Bei-ge’er, and Da-hai do it together.”

ha?

The two young men whose names were called looked up at the same time. Pei Chen pointed at himself with his index finger tucked in, "Father, me?"

It's you!

Pei Jian was always kind to his daughters-in-law, but because of his aloof nature and the falling out with Old Xiao, his daughters-in-law felt that he was cold-hearted and short-tempered.

They dared not disobey at all.

Xiao Yinxiu now realized that her attempt to shirk responsibility had displeased her uncle, so she knelt down in front of Pei Jian with a thud, "Uncle, I didn't mean to shirk responsibility."

"Brother Chen, quickly help Ah Xiu up."

Pei Chen frantically tried to pull Xiao Yinxiu up, but Xiao Yinxiu instead pulled him down to kneel before her. "My aunt's private treasury was meant for the young masters, so that when my uncle was away on the frontier, it could occasionally supplement their household expenses—the young master and Bei-ge'er certainly can't understand this, so it's still my daughter-in-law—"

"Ah Xiu, don't be stubborn."

Pei Jian spoke calmly, showing no sign of anger.

But Xiao Yinxiu was inexplicably afraid. She lowered her head and said sincerely, "Uncle, don't worry." She wanted to take over, but Pei Jian was not so easy to talk to. "Since that's the case, it is indeed convenient for you to do things if you are here. How about this, Chen-ge'er is always slacking off and has no proper job. Now I have Dahai take back his affairs outside. He's just causing trouble. It's better if he and Bei-ge'er stay with you and get rid of them as soon as possible. I have a great use for them."

Unable to think of a way to refuse, Xiao Bei had no choice but to accept it, just like Pei Chen.

As we left Zhengxian Pavilion, dusk was approaching.

The three of them hadn't eaten properly at noon, and only now did they realize how hungry they were. In front of his brother-in-law Xiao Bei, Pei Chen made no attempt to hide his reprimand of Xiao Yinxiu.

"Father instructed you earlier that if you couldn't do it, you should have told him in advance, and he would have had your sister-in-law or Guanzhou do it. But you insisted on being capable, and then you tried to shirk responsibility by refusing to let Uncle Hai do it. Do you think Uncle Hai is the steward of your household, all show and no substance?"

Pei Hai invited her twice, but Xiao Yinxiu declined both times.

He only said one sentence to the Duke before the errand was brought up again, and he and Xiao Bei were added to the list. "Brother Bei will be going to school in a few days. Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for the two of us?"

"Your Highness—"

Xiao Bei couldn't bear to listen anymore and quickly stopped Pei Chen from speaking.

Pei Chen turned to look at Xiao Bei, "You know best what kind of person your elder sister is. She prides herself on being smart, but she doesn't know what kind of smartness petty cleverness is."

“Pei Chen, if you’re so capable, then we’ll go back and talk to your uncle, and let you handle it all by yourself.”

Pei Chen sneered, "You think I can't? But will you, Xiao Yinxiu, still have the face to manage the household affairs then?"

She can't even handle this simple task; what's the point of keeping her around to put on airs?

Xiao Yinxiu, feeling wronged, pointed at Pei Chen and choked up, "Who was my aunt's private treasury for? She's not dead yet, and you're so eager to take it all out. Who are you going to give it to?"

"Elder sister!"

Xiao Bei sighed. This couple showed no mercy, pointing at each other and cursing in broad daylight. He tried to mediate, but the refined and cultured Xiao Bei was no match for them.

They disregarded their pride and blurted out everything in their conversation.

"What Father intends to do is none of your business, you woman. If you can't do it, just step down. Don't hold onto the power of managing the household all day long, it's no big deal!"

Using sarcastic or sarcastic remarks was a consistently effective and ruthless tactic Pei Chen employed when dealing with Xiao Yinxiu.

Sure enough, Xiao Yinxiu was so angry that she burst into tears, grabbing Pei Chen's sleeve and refusing to let go, "Then go back and explain to my uncle that since I can't manage this family, I might as well ask to be divorced!"

"Hey! You're willing to part with it? Then let's go."

After saying that, Pei Chen grabbed Xiao Yinxiu and, ignoring her struggles, Aunt Chu and the maids beside her pleaded and tried to dissuade her, dragging Xiao Yinxiu back to Zhengxian Pavilion.

Xiao Bei exclaimed "Ouch!", stamped his foot, and stepped forward to stop Pei Chen.

"My brother-in-law is being ridiculous!"

"Who's being ridiculous? Just listen to what she's saying. Does she really think I wouldn't dare? I admit I don't have the ability to divorce her, but since she wants to leave on her own, what use is she to me? Our Pei family's Buddhist hall has a young lady from the Xiao family enshrined, that's enough!"

"Brother-in-law, watch your words! Your aunt is also your biological mother—"

"Biological child? Pshaw!"

Pei Chen released Xiao Yinxiu's wrist, ignoring the bruises on her delicate skin from his pinching. "Brother Chen, stay away from your elder sister. This woman is likely to drag everyone in the house down with her!"

How can it be?

Xiao Bei was about to explain when Xiao Yinxiu began to sob softly. Pei Chen, seeing this, smiled with sarcasm and contempt. "Here we go again! A middle-aged woman trying to act pitiful like a woman in her early twenties? I'm not stupid, I can't stand it!"

After all, walk away.

Xiao Bei sighed deeply, wanting to say more, but seeing that Xiao Yinxiu had lost face on the spot, he had no choice but to swallow his words and help her back to the main room.

As she was about to leave, Xiao Yinxiu whispered, "Fourth Brother, my aunt's private treasury... cannot be touched."